The Undeniable Jewish State

Recognizing Israel as the Jewish state is the critical litmus test.

Nothing about Israel could be more self-evident than its Jewishness. As Poland is the national state of the Polish people and Japan is the national state of the Japanese people, so Israel is the national state of the Jewish people. The UN's 1947 resolution on partitioning Palestine contains no fewer than 30 references to the "Jewish state" whose creation it was authorizing; 25 years earlier, the League of Nations had been similarly straightforward in mandating "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." When Israel came into existence on May 15, 1948, its Jewish identity was the first detail reported. The New York Times's front-page story began: "The Jewish state, the world's newest sovereignty, to be known as the State of Israel, came into being in Palestine at midnight upon termination of the British mandate."

Today, half the planet's Jews live in that state, many of them refugees from anti-Semitic repression and violence elsewhere. In a world with more than 20 Arab states and 55 Muslim countries, the existence of a single small Jewish state should be unobjectionable. "Israel is a sovereign state, and the historic homeland of the Jewish people," President Barack Obama told the UN General Assembly last month. By now that should be a truism, no more controversial than calling Italy the sovereign homeland of the Italian people.

And yet to Israel's enemies, Jewish sovereignty is as intolerable today as it was in 1948, when five Arab armies invaded the newborn Jewish state, vowing "a war of extermination and a momentous massacre." Endless rounds of talks and countless invocations of the "peace process" have not changed the underlying reality of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which is not about settlements or borders or Jerusalem or the rights of Palestinians. The root of the hostility is the refusal to recognize the immutable right of the Jewish people to a sovereign state in its historic homeland. Until that changes, no lasting peace is possible.

That is why the Israeli government is correct to insist that the Palestinian Authority publicly recognize Israel as the Jewish state. It is the critical litmus test. "Palestinian nationalism was based on driving all Israelis out," Edward Said told an interviewer in 1999, and the best evidence that most Palestinians are still intent on eliminating Israel is the vehemence with which even supposed "moderates" like Mahmoud Abbas will not -- or dare not -- acknowledge Israel's Jewishness as a legitimate fact of life. "What is a 'Jewish state?'" Abbas ranted on Palestinian TV. "You can call yourselves whatever you want, but I will not accept it. . . . You can call yourselves the Zionist Republic, the Hebrew, the National, the Socialist [Republic]. Call it whatever you like. I don't care."

There are those who argue that Israel cannot be both a Jewish state and a democracy. When Israel's parliament decided last week to require new non-Jewish citizens to take an oath of allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic" state, some people bristled. "The phrase itself is an oxymoron," one reader wrote to the Boston Globe. "How can a state openly favor one ethnic group over all others and declare itself to be democratic?"

There is no conflict at all between Israel's Jewish identity and its democratic values.

But there is no conflict at all between Israel's Jewish identity and its democratic values. Indeed, the UN's 1947 partition resolution not only called for subdividing Palestine into "independent Arab and Jewish states," it explicitly required each of them to "draft a democratic constitution" and to elect a government "by universal suffrage and by secret ballot." The Jews complied. The Arabs launched a war.

Many of the world's democracies have official state religions. Think of Britain, whose monarch is the supreme governor of the Church of England; or of Greece, whose constitution singles out the Eastern Orthodox Church as the country's "prevailing religion." The linking of national character with religion is a commonplace. Israel stands out only because its religion is Judaism, not Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism.

Nor is democracy incompatible with ethnic or national distinctiveness. Ireland waives its usual citizenship requirements for applicants of Irish descent. Bulgaria's constitution grants the right to "acquire Bulgarian citizenship through a facilitated procedure" to any "person of Bulgarian origin." It is not oxymoronic to describe Ireland as "Irish and democratic" or Bulgaria as "Bulgarian and democratic." Israel's flourishing little Jewish democracy is no oxymoron either.

It is something different: a beacon of decency in a dangerous and hate-filled neighborhood. If the enemies of the Jewish state could only shed their malice, what an Eden that neighborhood could become.

Visitor Comments: 13

(11)
Frank Adam,
December 12, 2010 5:51 PM

Stop discriminating

This sort of circular argument occurs when people do not swot their history. When the 1936 Peel Enquiry asked Weizmann what were Zionist ambitions for Palestine, Weizmann replied, "A Palestine as Jewish as England is English," which leaves more than enough room for democratic tolerance of minorities. Use the whole formula in Heinz 57 varieties, "Israel as Jewish as France is French / China is Chinese...." and the Arabs will look as ridiculous as ever they were before 1967 when they called for the elimination of Israel.
Further the US seems cowardy custard about big sticking the PA. If baker could twist Arab arms to come to Madrid by threatening to publicly recognise the legitimacy of Israeli settlement across the Green Line then it should not be beyond Obama / Clinton to threaten the PA into talks by similar means or to twist Arab arms to recognise an Israel as Jewish as Italy is Italian if they do not recognise Israeli self- determination to be as Jewish as Scotland is Scottish.

(10)
David,
November 6, 2010 4:54 AM

This article is naive. Will the Jewish state have a conflict with democracy when the arabs become the demographic majority? Of course it will. If Israel intends to stay Jewish and democratic it will have to do something about the demographic problem.
Another reason Israel will eventually be totally at odds with the western world is that the west today believes whole heartedly in a multicultural, secular, relativisitic view of society and the world at large. This view holds any country that includes religion as part of its identity as backward and uninclusive at best.
To say that the phrases "Japan is Japanese" and "Israel is Jewish" are equivalent is frankly absurd and an insult to Jews and what they stand for. Being Japanese does not require a set of religous beliefs and values. Being Jewish does, or at least should. Moreover, the comparison with the Christian nature of Britian is ironic. Britian is facing its own demographic problem and will likely be a majority Muslim country within the century, if not the next 50 years. I wonder if the Muslim majority will still allow the King (I doubt they will stand for queens, even as figureheads), to be the head of a Church. Moreover, England is Christian in name only, and only for the sake of history and tradition, which no doubt many enlightened secular Britons find distasteful. In America the idea of a national religion is unconstitutional.
I dont know the answer to these problems, but it does no good to write an article that pretends there will be no conflict now or in the future between western style democracy and the Jewish identity of Israel. Israel needs to ignore the west and just do what is has to in order to survive and maintain its identity. Just dont expect the west or the arabs to like it. For once, live or die, Jews need to be Jews, protect their bithright, and leave the rest to God. All this pandering and expression of half truths is pathetic and makes us look weak and dishonest.

(9)
Dovie E.,
November 5, 2010 7:57 PM

Mistaken Assumption

Mr. Jacoby writes that "Nothing about Israel could be more self-evident than its Jewishness."
When Israel uses its beaches to attract tourism, and when Jerusalem has gay parades, I would not say that Israel's Jewishness is "self-evident".

(8)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2010 9:09 PM

A fool is unfit to be a statesman!

Mahmoud Abbas is a fool as revealed by his own statements. His statements have disqualified him from statesmanship; an example of the blind leading the blind!

(7)
Andy,
October 28, 2010 6:40 PM

isreal's enemies are banking on those like #6 who seem to me to be mistaken re loving the stranger

The Islamic world seem to believe that time is on their side and that they will eventually destroy Israel as a Jewish State. I agree that it's possible although I think unlikely and hope and pray it does not play out that way. In any case as Abbas said "you can call yourselves whatever you want but I will not accept it." I think that would be the case no matter how many people mouthed loyalty oaths or other meaningless words. The challenge for the gov't and citizens of Israel is to try and be fair and just to all who obey the laws of the land no matter what they would like to do, and at the same time be harsh towards any who try and undermine the Jewish State illegally. There may be circumstances where in the interest of national security democracy needs to be limited. The present reality seems to me to be that most Muslims would like Jews out of the country if not dead, yet if they don't act on that desire we need to treat them justly and with respect. The same bible that commands us to love the stranger as yourself also commands that if one comes to kill you kill him first.

(6)
guy,
October 28, 2010 5:14 AM

Liberal American Jew View

America is not Greece, or Pakistan for that matter. It fought a war to break from control of the English Monarchy. It has no State Religion. It also happens to be where Jews have had more freedom and protection than at any point in the past 2500 years. And without it's friendship, who knows where Israel would be.
And, since when is "Judaism" a "Religion" in the same sense that Christianity or Islam or Hinduism are religions?
Judaism and Democracy are words. Justice, fairness, and loving thy stranger are not. Israel needs to keep that in mind, as do those who criticize Israel.

(5)
Shirlee Rosenthal,
October 28, 2010 2:51 AM

Israel

Always has been always will be a Jewish State. The Palestians do not want to acknowledge us and they never will. Shalom Shirlee

(4)
Gary Katz,
October 27, 2010 3:56 PM

Reading between the lines

It seems that the "Palestinians" weren't clamoring for their own state when they were ruled by Jordan. This suggests that their desire for their own country is motivated by a resentment of having Jewish rulers.

Anonymous,
March 5, 2014 5:49 PM

Nope

Arab main agenda is anti-Israel rhetoric and repeatedly called for a war of total destruction against Israel.. Some fanatic anti zionist always seek for the destruction of state of israel.

There is no such thing is to create a new Palestine state since they do not want it. The (Arab Muslim) do not care about the country borders ... Hamas and other Arab country main agenda is to wipe out Israel from the map COMPLETELY!!.

That is the reason dude.

Read and check this out :http://www.aish.com/jw/me/13-Facts-about-Israel--the-Middle-East.html

(3)
howard yagerman,
October 25, 2010 5:38 PM

Why do we do This kind of article?

I tought the Palestinians were looking for a State.We have one.Why debate the issue?The people who recognize our sovereignty will always recognize Israel as the Jewish state ,the ones who don't never will so why bother?.

Anonymous,
March 5, 2014 5:52 PM

Nope they don't .

(2)
Anonymous,
October 25, 2010 2:38 AM

Bravo, Mr. Jacoby.

Bravo again, Mr. Jacoby. You're doing the good Lord's work

(1)
Masha,
October 24, 2010 6:18 PM

More work for us ahead

Great article! Until arabs realize that jews are here to stay, in our homeland, peace talks will be just that-- talks.
We must educated our children, teens, young adults to the importance of Israel,-- as a jewish state. I see so many jewish parents completely clueless themselves-- something that has been completely missed by the American Jewish community. Well, it is time to wake up and smell the stench of anti-semitism in our coffee shops, on subways, at the office's water cooler.
Educate yourself about your heritage, your history, and be proud of where you come from. You don't have to be religious to appreciate everything that Judaism, and your Jewishness gives you.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

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